AKC Double Seminar: Brain Insulin Resistance - In Diabetes and Elsewhere

August Krogh Double Seminar

Prof. Jørgen Rungby

Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Denmark

Chief Physician and Head of Translational Type 2 Diabetes Research at Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen (SDCC).

Nicole J. Jensen PhD

Steno Diabetes Neuro Unit, Translational Type 2 Diabetes Research, Clinical Translational Research, Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen, Herlev, Denmark.

Department of Endocrinology, Copenhagen University Hospital Bispebjerg, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Abstract

Insulin resistance is a well-established driver of metabolic dysfunction, but its role in the brain is only beginning to be fully understood. We will explore the mechanisms behind brain insulin resistance, including disrupted insulin signalling, neuroinflammation, and altered neurotransmitter function. We will discuss how these changes contribute to cognitive decline, neurodegeneration, and mood disorders, with a focus on conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease and type 2 diabetes. We shall highlight emerging strategies to counteract brain insulin resistance and its potential as a therapeutic target.

Research Profile

Jørgen Rungby is a Professor of Endocrinology at the University of Copenhagen and Chief Physician and Head of Translational Type 2 Diabetes Research at Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen (SDCC). He is the former Head of Endocrinology at Aarhus University Hospital, the past President of the Danish Endocrine Society, and previously served as Professor of Clinical Pharmacology at Aarhus University.

His research group investigates diabetes and its neurological complications from basic biological, human-experimental, and epidemiological perspectives. This interdisciplinary effort integrates endocrinology, neuropsychology, imaging, epidemiology, clinical physiology, and neurology expertise. A key milestone has been the establishment of the Steno Diabetes Neuro Unit, which brings together national and international experts to foster collaboration and advance research in the field.

Nicole J. Jensen is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen (SDCC), where she specializes in exploring the neurological complications of diabetes within the Steno Diabetes Neuro Unit (SDNU). Her research focuses on brain insulin resistance and its implications for cognitive health, particularly in the context of diabetes. By integrating insights from observational studies and randomized controlled trials, Nicole aims to uncover innovative strategies to prevent and address cognitive decline linked to metabolic conditions. She earned her Master’s degree in Human Physiology and her PhD in Basic Metabolic Research from the University of Copenhagen, where her doctoral work centered on diabetes-related cognitive complications and potential therapeutic interventions.